Collapsible crate



Oct. 18,1927. 1,646,284 c. FLAGSTAD COLLAPS I BLE CRATE Filed July 5, 1924 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 Inventoz if 52 E 5 CORNELL nasmo alibi nu,

Oct. 1s, 1927. 1,646,284

` C. FLAGSTAD COLLAPS IBLE CRATE Filed July 5. 1924 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 i`5 fz @not ne:AV

Octo 18! C. FLAGSTAD coL'LAPsIBLE CRATE Filed July 5, 1924 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 00AM/ELL Fifmsm tro: ne 11 Oct.- 18, 1927.y 1,646,284 c. FLAGSTAD COLLAPSIBLE CRATE Filed July 5, 1924 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Oct. 18, 1927. 1,646,284 c. FLAGSTAD COLLAPSIBLE CRATE Filed July 5. 1924 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 100 a1 o o 49 Afp? 71| grs 10; YMJM/Ltoq, .98

Q-lg- CORNELL Enea-m0 Oa. 1s, 1927. 1,646,284 C. FLAGSTAD COLLAPSIBLE CRATE Filed July 5. 1924 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 nvcnoz i 7 n CORNELL finas TAD Patented Oct. 18, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CORNELL FLAGS'IAD, OF BIINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA, ASSIGNOR OF NINETY-FIVE PER CENT TO FOLDING CRATE AND BOX COMPANY, OF MINNEAFOLIS, MINNESOTA, .A

CORPORATION OF MINNESOTA.

COLLA? SIBIJE CRATE.

Application filed July 5, 1924. Seria ND. 724,320.

This invent-ion relates to collapsible and returnable carriers, and the main object is to provide a collapsible crate of a novel, efficient and practical construction, in which the various crate sections are secured together in such a manner than when the crate is emptied and collapsed for return shipment it will ce securely contained within a parcel occupying but a comparatively small W space of that required for the crate when set up. A further object is to provide a crate of a collapsible nature in which the various parts are arranged in a novel manner whereby the crate cannot only be knocked l5 down and yset up in a minimum time, .but aise .i'hich,I when set up, will he very rigid and strong, and wherein any normal or `eX- cessive strain ori the crate will he taken up almost entirely hy the main sectionsthereof if directly, thus relieving and pieventing any undue strain on the hinges and other more delicate parts. Further and more specific objects will he disclosed in the cou-iseof the following specifcation, reference being 2"" had to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is an end (or side) elevation of a crateembodyiiig the principles of the invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional elevation on f-H the liiae in Fig. l, a central portion being y1orolien out.

Fig. 3 is a sectional View through the crate, when collapsed. n

Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail perspective i5 view oi a hinge member used in the crate.

Fig. 5 is :au enlarged sectional detail View on the line 5 in Fig. 2.

Fig. o is an enlarged Vdetail section on the line (SMG in FiO'.

Fig. T "is a detail plan view on the line 77 in Fin'. 2.

Fig. 8 is a detail section oii the line 8-8 ifm Fig. Y.

Fig. 9 is an enlarged detail section on .the 17 lin-e Sli-9 in Fig. 7.

Fig. 1U is a perspective outline showing the folding method. n

11 a perspective view showing certain mod :cations in the crate.

'f2 is a detail section as seen about on line 124112 in Fig. 11.

Fig. i3 is a sectional detail illustrating certain modifications in the crate as shown iorinstance in 11.

Fig. 14 is a perspective View of the end of a crate .showing further modifications of the structure in Fig. 11, fractional portions being .broken away.

Fig. 15 is an enlarged sectional detail View as seen on the line 1.515 in Fig. 14.

Fig. 16 is a perspective vview of a crate showing further modifications.

Fig. 17 is .a side view of the crate, shown in Fig. 16, collapsed.

Fig. 18 is .an enlarged detail sectional view on the line 18-18 in Fig. 17.

Fig.. 19 is an enlarged fractional section ou the line 1.919 in Fig. 16.

Fig. 2O is an end view `of a modified form of the crate.

2i is an enlarged sectional detail view on the line 21-21 in Fig. 20.

Fig. is a sectional elevation through a crate, having :further modified features, looking toward the end of the crate as from the inner side.

Fig. 23 is a side (or end) View of a crate illustrating certain further modifications.

Fig. 24 is an enlarged detail section on the line 24-24 in Fig. 23.

Many of the important features of the invention are .common to all the crates shown in the drawings. It is found, however, that certain features and details of construction must be altered or modified to meet the needs oaf various classes of crates as used in the trade. Thus, for instance, a crate used for shipping poultry, as in Figs. 1 to 10, inclusive, and 23 and 24, is of a lower type than those shown .in other figures, which may be used for other purposes such as for shipping machinery, furniture, washing machines, ice boxes, engines or other heavy articles, and therefore the relative .proportions of the sections which make up the crate will require that slightly different constructions and methods of folding operation be employed.

Referring to the drawings loy reference characters, A designates the base or bottom section of a collapsible crate having a cover or top section B, side sections C and D, and end sections E and F. 'These reference letters with suitable exponents or index numhers, to designate modified forms, will be employed to designate corresponding Sections in all ofthe figures.

Attention will for the moment be first and more particularly directed to the crate struct-ure illustrated in Figs. 1 to 10, inclusive. In this crate Vthe balsefor bottomlsec! tion A consists of a floor 26 having bottom end cleats 27 and a bias or angled slat 28. One end of the base has a small strip 29, the height of which is equal to the thickness of the horizontal slats 30 of the Section D, while the opposite end of the baseghas Ya strip 31, which is twice as high as 29, for reasons later to be set forth.` The .sections C and D are completed by legs or uprights in 5 the form of slats 32,'nailed-or otherwise suitably secured to the members 30. The Section'D` is hingedly secured to fthe base A by hinges, each of which consists of a reinforcing st-rap 33, havin'ga pintle 34 which centers at the upper outer* corner of' the strip 29 and at. the center of the bott-om edge of the side section, as shownfin F igs,` 2 and 3,so that the side section 'cannot swing in- Wardly and can only swin'geuttoan angle of ninety degrees to the position shown in Fig. 3.

The sidesection-C is hinged to the base A by hinges 37 the pintles of which center at the inner adjacent-cornersof the members 31 and 32 so that the section rC' cannot swing outwardly but. only inwardly, as in Fig. 3, and so as to leave a space, the thickness of a'sectio'n, between it and the base', this space being arranged to receive the end sections Eand F, as will later be described.

They cover section B consists or" a frame of crossed slats 35 and 36,and is permanently secured tothe-section() by hinges 38, one of which is detailed in Fig; 4, the pintle being'arranged soithat' when the crate is collapsed lthe sections Band G will lie 1n the same plane, as shown .in Fig. 'This hinge 38v consists of a U-shaped member 47, clamped over the section C, and a heavy wire bail -48 which is secured to the section B. The member 47 is preferably provided with a punched up tongue 49 which, With'the upper part 'of the member, is'nailed down upon the upper end of the section,'s o that a nail driven through `the perforations' 50 will strengthen the pintle bearing 5l and preveilt it from being opened up or pulled out of `shapeby the cover'section.

A AStrip 39 is securedon theinnerside of the section C to receiveand 'support the ends-.of the slats 535,' and' thusl relieves ithe hinges 38 of any strain such,"ifor' instance, as would result from heavy baggage or other articles beingplaced upon the" crate'. Similarly it will be noticed that such'strain'frbm above on thel sections C and D will 'be d1' rectly onv the base members29and 31, thus v. alsorelievingthe hinges :33 and 37. `The other ends of the slats 3 50fltlie cover section Bfnormally rest uponthe upper end of thers'ection. D, the latter of which'is 'preferably reinforced by'Y astrip r"40. The cover is hingedly anddetachably secured to the section D, as at 4l, by devices one of which is detailed in Figs. 7, 8 and 9, and may be described as follows: Inset into the end of the slat. 35 is a latch member' 42 having a slot 43 anda spring held bolt 44, the bolt 44 being retractable by a finger piece 45. A- bail member 46, secured to the section D, projects up into the slot 43 for locking engagement over the bolt 44, and its upper end is angled inwardly (Fig. 9) so that it may be engaged either when the sections B and D are at right angles (as in Figs. 7, 8 and 9) or when they are fiat against each other, as inlfFig. 3.

The end Sections E and F consist of end legs or vertical slats 52 and horizontal slats 53. They are hingedly secured directly to the base section, as at 54, and within the vertical limits thereof, as shown in Fig. 5. A filler strip 55 is secured to the base so as to close the space between the legs 52 and to forma rest for the lower edge of the lowest strip 53, when the section is in a' vertical position.l This strip is of the same height th-e section E (or F) is thick. The sections E, F are arranged to engage the inner sides of thc sections C, D, to brace them, and are provided with vertically projecting tongues 56 for locking engagement in slots 57A in the cover section, strengthening straps 58 being secured adjacent to the slots to reinforce the adjacent cover section material.

Now when the crate is to be collapsed the latch bolts 44 are first pull-ed back to release the cover from the section- D, which is then either dropped down to a horizontal position or left standing. in a low and long or wide crate the cover may be swung temporarily over and back to rest on the floor, as in Fig. l0, without straining the hinges 38. This releases the tongues 56 of the sections E andvF which are then free to be folded into the crate (as indicated in Fig. 10). If the crate is so high that the sections E, F cannot be folded in without overlapping, a slightly different construction, later to be described, is used.

The cover can now beswung forward to its original position and re--attached to the section D, whereupon the sections C, B, and D may be collapsed, through a parallelogram figure, until they are all in a horizontal and parallel position. In this knocked down or collapsed condition it will be obvious that practically all the space defined by the crate is filled with the various sections thereof which are Very closely nested together. The crate may also be locked in its collapsed condition as will be described in connection with one of the modified forms. A reverse operation will of course restore the crate to its set up position.

In the crate shown in Figs. l1 and l2 the end sections E1 and F1 are detachable so that lil they can be removed and placed within the crate, when collapsed, as this crate is too high to permit them being folded down upon the base A1 without overlapping. In this case the section C1 is hinged directly to the base as at 59 in such a manner that when folded down the outer members 60, 61 and 62 will all into horizontal alignment with the floor members 63 of the base. The legs 64, however. are on the inside of the hinges 59 so that they will bear directly down on the base, when set up, and thus relieve the hinges from excessive strain. The opposite section D1 is hinged at its lower edge as at 65 to a member 66, both the legs 67 and the outer members 68, 69 and 70 being on the outer side of the hinges, however, so that when the crate is folded down there will be a suficicnt space or pocket between the members 64. 60, 62, 61, and 67-7 0, to contain the two detached end sections. The end sections consist ot frames each having vertical legs 71 connected by cross members 72, 7 3 and 74. The lower ends of the members 71 lock behind cross strips 75 at the ends ot the bot toni section, while the outer endsI ot the members 72, 74 project to engage against the edges of the sections C1 and D1, while the vertical members 71 snugly engage the inner faces of the members 64. 67, to brace the crate. The cover B1 is somewhat similar to the cover B and is locked by a similar securing latch 41. As this crate is too high. however, to permit the cover to be dropped back as in Fig. 10) without. straining the connecting hinges, the cover is also made detachable by hinges of the type shown in Fig. 12. This hinge consists of a loop mem` ber 76, on the slat 70, and a hook 77 on the cover. This hook is so Vformed that it may be released from the loop when the cover has been swung wide open, but is securely fastened when the crate is closed. The ends ot' the cover B1 are further provided with angular tingers 7S which are arranged to engage the upper ends of the end sections to lock them in place. It will thus be seen that when the latch 41 is released and the cover is opened up. the end sections may be lifted out and enclosed within the other sections when the cover is re-attached and the crate is collapsed. Latch members 79-80. arranged on the side sections, are provided to lock the crate closed in its collapsed condition.

In the moditication shown in Fig. 13 the base A2 has floor boards 81 connected by cross slats 82 on the under side, and an edge piece 83 at one edge. The side sections C2 and D2, are hinged in substantially the same manner as in Fig. 1l. They consist, however, of double vertical members 84 and 85, connected by cross members 86. so that a deeper space will be left between the opposite members 86 when the crate is collapsed. This is required especially in crates where the end sections are restored face to face and not edge to edge, or in the event that unusually thick or heavy end sections are used.

The construction illustrated in Figs. 14 and 15 is substantially similar to the crate as shown in Fig. 11, the sections A3, B3, C3, D3, and E3, being somewhat like the corresponding sections Al, A2, etc., except for the following changes: Thel end section members 71 lock between the members 72, 74 and 64, as above, but are secured by the cover through a strip 87, which is secured to the upper members 88 of the cover, such members being slightly longer than the corresponding members of the cover B1, so that the ends of the cover will have a fuller bearing on the end sections, Instead of the diagonal brace 73 each end section E3 is also provided with a. third horizontal or intermediate slat 89 which is arranged to lock the end section to the crate when the cover is open; and thus not only strengthen the crate but also ho'lds it together when the cover is open and the crate is being filled. The lock or latch used is somewhat similar to the previously described latch 41 and consists of a holder 90, having a slot 91 and a spring actuated bolt 92, the slat S9 having a pocket 93 to receive the holder and a nail or other suitab'le pin 94 to be received in the slot 91 and detach ably retained by the bolt 92. The latch 79 is also otl a similar construction and locks the crate closed by detachably receiving a bail ot` the member 80 in its slot.

In the modification shown in Figs. 16, 17. 18 and 19, the end sections E, F4 are prac-l tically identicalto the end sections E1. F1, but the hinging and construction of the other sections A4, B4. C4, and D* is modified. Thus, the base or bottom section consists of outer bars 95, and inner bars 96 to which are secured the Hoor boards 97. The side sections C4 and D* consist ot' vertical rails 98 connected by horizontal slats 99. The lower ends of the rails or legs 98 are pivotallv secured, by rivets 100. between and to thiel members -96, but are long enough so that when the crate set up they will bear directly on the floor and thus relieve the rivets 100 troni excessive strain. Suitable plates 101 may be secured on the pivoted members, to act as bearings and prevent the rivets from splitting the slats or wearing through. The lower ends of the end section legs 71 are inserted in between the bars 95 and 96, while their iippei' ends are arranged to be received and locked between corresponding rails 102 and 103 of the cover section B4. The cover is completed bv slats 104 which are secured to all the members 102. 10?). although one of them 105 (Fig. 16) may be shorter and connect only the iiiner rails 103 so as not to interfere with the adjacent side section members 98 when thel Htl ill

crate is collapsed, as in Fig. 17. (It is obvious that the floor boards 97 cannot extend to the bars 95 as they would interfere with the folding). The cover 'B4 is riveted, as at 106, to the section D4, but is detachably pivoted or hinged to the section C4, by suitable means such as bolts 107, so that the cover may be conveniently opened, and so that the sections E4, F4 may be detached, for collapsing purposes.

1n the crate shown in Figs. 2t) and 21, the sections A5, B7', C5 and D are quite like the corresponding sections shown in Fig. lo, ex cept that the rails 95 and 102 are omitted. The end section E7' consists of a simple bar 108, which is permanently riveted, as at 109, to the side section leg` 110, while its orner end is detachably secured as at 111 to the opposite side section. A hole 112 is also provided in the upright 110, and is spaced from 109 so that the bolt 111 can secure the bar 108 to the leg when the crate is knocked down. This eliminates the necessity of a complete frame for each end Section, which is not necessary for instance when single pieces of furniture or machinery are being crated. Fig. 21 illustrates a preferred method ol" strengthening the joints of the crate, and shows the leg 98 as having hanger plates 113 which journal the rivet 10() at their lower ends, while the upper ends are secured to the leg, so that the pull downward will be distributed to higher points. The base rail 96 is provided with plates 101 and 111, the latter ol which is bent and secured under the rail so as to greatly strengthen it.

The crate shown in Fig. 22 includes a shallow base AG to which ispivoted, at each end, the side sections C6 and D, a rail 115 (similar to 95) being employed to form a receiving slot for the detachable end section F". The cover section BG consists of a pair ol' outer rails 116 connected by slats 117. The end section FG includes a pair of diagonal section braces 118, to engage outwardly against the members 115, 116, and a pair of transverse or horizontal slats 119 (similar to 7 -'2*74) to bear inwardly against the vertical rails 12() of the side sections. This type of end sections is found very desirable under certain circun'istances as swelling and eXpansion otI the diagonal members 118, by reason of moisture, will not tend to bind or tighten the section as much for instance with the use of both vertical and horizontal slats.

The crate shown in Figs. 23 and 2-l has many features and characteristics which are also common to previously described constructions, although some diHerences are present and will now be set forth. Although the elevation may be considered either as a side or end view depending upon the proportionate dimensions and method of construction employed, it will here be considered as an end view, for convenience of description. This crate is particularly designed as a poultry coop, and includes a shallow base A7, a similar but inverted cover section B7, side sections C7 and D7, which pivotally connect the upper and lower sections; and detachable end sections F7 (and E7 not visible). rThe base and cover sections are pivoted to the inner sides of the rails 121 of the side sections, the joint between B7 and D7 being arranged to be broken, as at 122, for reasons heretofore set forth. The sections F7 (and E7) consist of vertical slats 123 and horizontal slats 124, which interlock with the sections A7, B7, C7, and D7, the vertical slats 123 bearing inwardly against the horizontal members 125 and 126, while the horizontal slats 124 bear outwardly against the members 121.

1t is understood that various and .suitable modifications, other than those vherein set forth.r may be made in the crate, or in its structural details an-d general design, provided. however, that such modifications come within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

Having now therefore fully shown and described my invention, what I claim to be new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. A collapsible crate comprising a base, a pair of side sections adapted to fold one down upon and the other away from the base, means tor hingedly securing the side sections to the base, one of the hinge centers being otl'set vertically from the other so that when the side sections are collapsed to a horizontal position they will lie in different planes, a cover arranged to swing' from the upper edge ot' one of said sections and to be detachably vsecured to the upper end of the other section, and end sections arranged to close the ends of the crate and brace the crate in its set up position.

2. A collapsible crate comprising a base, a cover and side sections hingedly connected to each other at adjoining edges, the hinges at one side of the crate being offset vertically with respect to the hinges at the other side, and end sections, arranged to interlock with the cover, to close the ends of the crate, said side sections `being foldable one down upon and the other away from the base when the crate is to be collapsed.

A crate comprising a base, side sections hingedly secured thereto and adapted to fold one down upon and the other away from the base, a cover hingedly secured to one of said sections and detachably secured to the other section, and end sections for closing the ends ofthe crate, said end sections being arranged to interlock with the cover when the latter is closed down whereby they will be locked into operative or set up position by the cover.

4. A collapsible crate comprising a base,

lltl

a cover and side and end sections, said side sections being hingedly secured to the base whereby they may be swung one over and one away from the base when the crate is to be collapsed, and means independent of the hinge connections, whereby vertical pressure on the side sections will be conveyed directly to the base.

5. A collapsible crate consisting of a base, a pair of side sections hingedly secured thereto for swinging movement in the same direction, a cover hingedly connected at one edge to one of the Side sections and detacliably connected at its opposite edge to the other side section, detachable end sections adapte-d to be inserted at the ends of the crate, and means associated with and affected by a clos ing movement of the cover for locking said end sections in place.

6. A collapsible crate comprising a base, a cover, and side sections adapted to be folded one down upon and the other away from the base, said side sections being secured by upper and lower hinges to said cover and base, the hinges ot one side section being higher than the hinges of the opposite side section, so that when the crate is collapsed the said base, cover and side sections will fold latly against each other.

7. A collapsible crate comprising a base. a cover and side sections hingedly secured together at their four adjoining edges, detachable end sections, and means associated with said base. cover, and side sections, for receiving and locking said end sections in place, the hinge connection between the cover and one of said side sections including means Jfor releasing the cover whereby it may be swung open from the opposite side section.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

CORNELL FLAGSTAD. 

